From KLM's UK and Japanese websites

Dec 11 to Dec 17/19 (cheapest dates thereabout chosen)
Tokyo - London - Tokyo Cheapest fare= 134,000 yen

Dec 11 to Dec 17/19 (cheapest dates thereabout chosen)
London - Tokyo - London Cheapest fare=536 UKP (=80,000 yen)

Its low season both ways, but the Japanese fare is 70% more.

When we booked our flight, the pound was about 200, so it wasn't so noticeable.

They need to get that sorted.

Funny how it takes longer to bring prices down than it does to rise them. Or am I just imagining that?

I think prices in Japan have not yet been adjusted to the newly strong yen.

For example, I wanted to buy some coffee beans at the weekend. I was thinking 'prices must be down a lot now the yen is so strong' but I found prices were exactly the same as 6 months ago! Surely anything imported should now be much cheaper to buy? Same goes for the airline tickets. I need to buy some tix for march but I think I will hang on until Jan to buy because I think the new fuel charge and strong yen needs to be factored into prices.

Just as they needed gov approval for the fuel surcharge, the airlines are now getting approval to reduce the surcharge.

Slow gov beaurocrats.

Why would they need approval to reduce a charge?

their way of pushing the blame and delaying the reduction in the meantime.

This page from KLM is interesting, they have the surcharge info all laid out:
http://www.klm.com/travel/jp_en/travel_information/japan/fuel_surcharge.htm

I wonder what the current price is for jet fuel though.

As ever as clear as muck.

Is there an English translation?

Thanks bobby. It clears up the charge, but still doesn't say why they have a cheap promotion at the UK end and no corresponding one in Japan for exactly the same service.

Basically, if you're going next spring, you should wait until after Jan 1 to book. That's when the surcharge will come down.

ANA's info is a bit easier to understand. After Jan 1, you save about 10,000 yen per long-haul flight with them.

http://www.anaskyweb.com/uk/e/ana_info/fuel/index.html

Cathay, Sing, ANA, Nepal got their reduction granted. 45% short, 40% long.

Nepal Airline <------- can't wait to try them.

I've tried that one but it was local, from Jomson to Pokkara. Pleasant flight. We got roughed up a bit at the airport but that had nothing to do with the airline.

That was so funny I was reading it and it said Cathy, Sing, ANA and Nepal. NEPAL isn't that the national airline that carry people, pigs, lama's, chickens etc. I think they would have to pay me a surcharge to fly them OR I would have to refuel the plane myself to know that there was actually enough fuel in it for my flight. (my apologies to any nepalese natives I may have offend).

Actually, I read an article about the worry that some airlines in a bid to reduce costs will skimp on the volume of fuel on a flight to near dangerous levels.

this thread is monitored by Ghurkas. They're coming for you.

Ayo Ghurkali!

Gherkins. Picked are best.